Production of braille books

Selection

The book collection reflects to a large extent the requests of readers. Approximately 40 pecent of an annual production of 300 titles are made on demand. Remaining acquisitions consist mostly of recent fiction for adults and juveniles, though non-fiction is also produced. At the weekly book selection meeting, TPB librarians choose which books are to be produced in braille.

Production

All braille books are catalogued and can be located in TPB-katalogen, the public web-based catalogue. Average production time is estimated to 12 weeks, but it is possible to produce a book in 4 weeks, if necessary. As TPB has no in-house production facilities all books are produced by printing houses using uncontracted braille.

In general, braille books are produced only as a single copy, though if a title becomes popular new copies are produced. Braille is produced according to the rules and recommendations laid down by the Swedish Braille Authority.

The braille book design

Most of the books are produced in a broad book format with braille printed on both sides of the page. Only Grade 1, i.e. non-contracted braille is used.

For ease of use and to aid beginners, double spacing and single page braille is used in some books suitable for new braille readers.

Picture books

Picture books are produced in three different ways; as interleaved braille books, as braille books including the printed book as a supplement, or as tactile picture books.

Interleaved braille books ("print braille books", consisting of the original printed books interleaved with plastic sheets of braille) and braille books accompanied by the original printed book in the same package, were already in use by the 1970's. These books are produced to enable visually disabled adults to read to i sighted children.

In tactile picture books, relief pictures interpret the original pictures, using vivid colours, shapes and textures. The demand and interest for the tactile picture books is notable and TPB considers such production to be of great importance. Through tactile picture books, visually disabled children are introduced to texts and pictures at an early age, just as sighted children are. In addition it promotes braille usage. The use of tactile pictures in ordinary braille books is also increasing. Read more about tactile picture books.